IP Library Granted Patent US 7,550,850
Granted Patent B2
US 7,550,850 · App. 11/269,589 · Granted Jun 23, 2009

Semiconductor device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,550,850
App. No.
11/269,589
Granted
Jun 23, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor chip 100 includes a logic unit and an analog unit 153 . Furthermore, the semiconductor chip 100 includes a silicon substrate 101 ; a first insulating film 123 to a sixth insulating film 143 formed on the silicon substrate 101 ; and an annular seal ring 105 consisting of a first conductive ring 125 to a sixth conductive ring 145 buried in the first insulating film 123 to the sixth insulating film 143 , which surrounds the periphery of the logic unit and the analog unit 153 . In the seal ring region 106 , there is formed a pn junction acting as a nonconducting part 104 , which blocks conduction in a path from the logic unit, through the seal ring 105 to the analog unit 153.

Claims (16)

1. A semiconductor device with a first device region and a second device region, comprising:

a semiconductor substrate,

an insulating interlayer formed on said semiconductor substrate, and

an annular guard ring consisting of a conductive film buried in said insulating interlayer and surrounding the periphery of said first device region,

wherein a nonconducting part blocking electric conduction in a path from said first device region, through said annular guard ring to said second device region is formed in a guard ring forming region,

wherein there is formed a first diffusion layer having a same conductivity type as that in said semiconductor substrate in the vicinity of a surface of said semiconductor substrate;

a second diffusion layer having an opposite conductivity type to that of said semiconductor substrate is formed in contact with a bottom surface of said first diffusion layer;

a lateral periphery of said first diffusion layer is insulated;

said annular guard ring is connected to a surface of said first diffusion layer; and

said bottom surface of said first diffusion layer and a bottom surface of said second diffusion layer constitute said nonconducting part.

2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein

said annular guard ring comprises multiple conductive films adjacent to each other via said insulating interlayer;

in a region comprising said nonconducting part, said annular guard ring comprises a plurality of columnar conductive plugs connected to said surface of said first diffusion layer; and

in said region comprising said nonconducting part, said columnar conductive plugs are arranged as a diagonal lattice in the plane.

3. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein said second diffusion layer is apart from diffusion layers provided in said first and second device regions.

4. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein said semiconductor has a planar shape and said nonconducting part extends over a whole region immediately under said conductive film.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Nov 29, 2017
From: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044928/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 11, 2010
From: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025346/0877 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2005
From: NAKASHIBA, YASUTAKA
To: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017220/0211 →